For two days political discord led to an outbreak of violence within the state's largest city, Wilmington, in 1898. Democrats' white-supremacy was challenged by \"fusionists\" or a Populist-Republican alliance, especially in the racially charged city of Wilmington where the African American population outnumbered Wilmington. Between November 10-12 violence overtook the city and was not squelched until members of the State Guard and U.S. Navy calmed rioters.